Composite materials using novel reinforcements

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to materials used for building products, construction projects, structural objects, mechanical devices and other materials applications. Specifically, the invention concerns composite materials made with reinforcing elements in a binder matrix material. A method of strengthening materials is described that uses high volumes of reinforcing elements, which can be easily dispersed and uniformly distributed, consisting of large diameter fibers, miniature rods or other similar geometric shapes with a diameter or thickness between 0.05 mm and 20 mm where the reinforcements are incorporated either as short, randomly distributed elements or long, continuous aligned arrays.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to materials used for building products, construction projects, structural objects, mechanical devices and other materials applications. Specifically, the invention concerns composite materials made with reinforcing elements in a binder matrix material. Materials such as Portland cement, gypsum, epoxy and polyester thermoset resins, thermoplastics, etc. are often reinforced with fine filaments of glass, carbon, ceramic, wood pulp/cellulose and polymers or other fibers, particles or rods to provide improved strength, stiffness and toughness. Concrete (Portland cement with stone/rock aggregates and sand) uses steel or other rods or fibrous strands to provide engineering structures with high load carrying capabilities. These composite systems are produced in two basic design configurations:

[0005] 1. Long or essentially continuous, aligned reinforcing elements disposed in the axes, planes or surfaces of applied force

[0006] 2. Short, randomly-oriented reinforcing fibers uniformly dispersed throughout object

[0007] High levels of properly placed reinforcement are required to improve matrix strength. However, the processes used to produce these composites are often quite complex and the resultant products are relatively costly. For instance, composites using long, aligned reinforcements, such as filament wound fiberglass reinforced plastics or pre-stressed steel/concrete, can achieve high reinforcement volume loading content (over 50% of composite volume) and correspondingly high strength, but the design flexibility is limited and manufacturing costs are high since these reinforcements must be individually and precisely placed into position. In the second case (composites using short, randomly dispersed reinforcements), fiber clumping, incomplete fiber/binder wet-out and poor flow or molding characteristics of the mixtures limit reinforcements to 10 to 20% maximum fiber volume for many types of common composite systems (i.e., polyester resin compounds with chopped graphite or glass fibers; fiberglass or cellulose fiber reinforced cement pastes; etc.). Sophisticated mixing and intensive pressing/molding/laminating/extrusion techniques are needed to achieve higher levels of reinforcement necessary to improve composite strength or other properties.

[0008] Often, unique and expensive processes such as filament winding; high pressure compression molding and extrusion; resin transfer, reaction and injection molding; paper-making processes; spray-up; centrifugal casting; etc. are required for various common types of composite materials. A reinforcing material that can be easily mixed or placed into the binder material and formed by simple means into both thin flat sheets and complex shapes would be highly desirable. Additionally, the reinforcements must provide the improved strength and other physical property benefits at an economical cost.

[0009] Extensive efforts have been made to accomplish these goals. To date no inventions have been identified that allow for a highly reinforced matrix material to be formed directly into a final product with acceptable costs and adequate mechanical property improvements. Reinforced polymer materials continue to be made largely by filament winding, extrusion, injection or compression molding, spray-up and other costly methods. Concrete still use pre-stressing or post-tensioning of steel wire or bars as the primary construction method. Some new products have been introduce that use recent advances in glass fiber, wood pulp and other technologies allowing the replacement of a variety of asbestos-cement materials that have been banned due to health-related problems from asbestos. Also, a few novel, commercial products that allow simple, cheap manufacture have been developed such as premixed polymer, carbon and stainless steel fiber reinforced cement blends and short fiber filled, extruded thermoplastic pellets. However, none of these products listed above provide simple manufacturing combined with adequate increased strength to allow for use in load-bearing or structural applications. The technologies suffer in one or more of the following areas,

[0010] 1. Low reinforcement levels (generally, less than 10 to 20% by volume)

[0011] 2. The need for expensive, complex processing equipment and manufacturing techniques (especially to achieve >50% volume reinforcement levels)

[0012] 3. Minimal benefit to design strength limits (yield or deflection point) or other structural properties despite increased levels of reinforcement

[0013] 4. Excessive material cost and/or poor reinforcing efficiencies (cost:benefit ratio)

[0014] Often when improvements are made in one area, however, the other areas are either ignored or suffer other additional problems.

[0015] Prior art has followed various traditional paths to improve composite properties and manufacturing ability. Thermoset resins (cross-linked monomers) and thermoplastics (heat processed polymers) have focused on the adaptation of new production methods and equipment. The reinforcements still include traditional fine filaments or bundled strands of glass, carbon, Kevlar and similar fibers. Improvements in the formulations, sizings/coatings and fiber properties have been espoused, but the actual form and geometry of the reinforcements has remained largely unchanged (multiple filament strands). Issues remain on the best way to wet-out or coat the fiber surfaces and properly disperse or place them within the matrix. Whisker fibers (carbides, oxides, metals, etc.), reinforcing fillers (clay platelets, wollastonite, etc.) and similar concepts such as nanomaterial technology have been proposed and have met with limited success in improving reinforced plastics, but the high surface area of these materials requires special techniques to incorporate in the binders at even marginally high volume levels.

[0016] The field of reinforced cement has seen significant growth. The substitution of asbestos fiber with glass, cellulose, metal and polymer filaments in reinforcing cement has been especially pervasive. The technology has followed four distinct trends. First, many U.S. patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,989,335; 5,916,361; 5,705,233, etc.) declare the use of low volume levels of well dispersed fine filaments to be effective. None of these, however, can provide true reinforcing value. While the fibers may improve toughness, impact strength and the like, insufficient fiber levels are present to effect any improvement in initial cracking strength . . . making such composites unsuitable for any structural type applications. Second, many of the reinforcements are used in the form of fine filaments but are incorporated at high volume levels with specialized equipment or processing techniques. High pressure, intensive molding, extrusion, laminating, vacuum filtration, etc. have been used to overcome the natural tendency of long, fine fibers to resist consolidation. These fibers also tend to tangle and clump together, making product manufacture difficult. Various disclosures (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,528,151; 5,733,671; 5,676,105; 5,108,679; et al) detail some of these various processing techniques using fine diameter filaments.

[0017] Thirdly, efforts to fabricate, bond or intertwine the filaments into thicker strands have been disclosed in several patents as a means of providing a more desirable fiber geometry (thicker resultant, effective fiber diameters). As specified, herein, these larger diameters are critical to improved wet-out/coating and dispersion/placement in the matrix material. However, these prior art claims do not accomplish the intended purpose as effectively as the use of discrete fibers of a solid/monolithic type structure. Specifically, the various described bonded fiber agglomerations do not provide identical properties to those fibers of the present invention. The bonded strands can become degraded or separated during mixing and molding operations. Furthermore, the individual filaments within the fiber strands can slip (shear bond failures) or break pre-maturely under stress from load forces on the composite. Also, the steps necessary to create the fiber bundles add cost and variability to their reinforcing properties. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,423,134; 5,685,902; 4,923,517; etc. all propose the use of adhered fiber bundles or filament agglomerations which suffer from the drawbacks noted immediately above as well as other design flaws (excessive fiber length, low fiber volume loading, poor strength/stiffness, etc. as required per this novel invention).

[0018] Finally, a limited number of patents have proposed the use of reinforcements with fiber diameters within the range consistent with the present invention. However, in every case either the level of reinforcement or physical properties of the fibers were inadequate to realize any improvement in initial crack or deformation strength of the composite. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,503,625; 5,443,918; 4,284,667 and similar ones detail the use of these larger fiber diameters. Most of these reinforcements are proposed to be used at levels of less than 10% volume loading. Typically, the referenced lengths of the reinforcements are too long to achieve higher levels, anyway, with a random three-dimensional dispersion of fibers. For instance, a 0.5 mm diameter, 20 mm long reinforcement (40:1 L:D aspect ratio) is not capable of achieving volume levels much greater than 10-20% unless high pressure or mechanical working is used to bend or crush these miniature rods into a more dense packing arrangement. The present invention also differs from reinforced concrete that uses long or continuous steel wire or rebar for strength enhancement. While this type of concrete employs large diameter reinforcement similar to the requirements of the present invention (1.5 to 15 mm diameter), common practice uses less than 10% steel by volume in typical construction. The novel proposed technology requires the use at least 2040% volume and for aligned, uniaxial reinforcements the total volume levels should preferably reach as much as 70% or more. While a steel reinforced concrete composite incorporating this much reinforcement might not be desirable, other materials (eg., long, 5-15 mm diameter fired clay, ceramic or glass rods), alone or in combination with steel members could provide a composite with a superior combination of strength and cost trade-offs. Calculations show that a cement composite with high levels of large diameter, fired clay rod reinforcement might allow for a 50% reduction in both product weight and costs with comparable strength properties relative to traditional steel reinforced concrete.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0019] A concept to use alternative reinforcement types/forms at higher volume levels that can still be easily mixed and placed, cast or molded is proposed as follows,

[0020] 1. Select reinforcing materials that provide more beneficial trade-off of costs, strength, stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity) and binder compatibility than typical conventional reinforcements such as fiberglass filaments, cellulose pulp, steel bars, etc.

[0021] 2. Use said materials to make large diameter fibers (or miniature rods) having a more optimal surface area per unit volume relative to conventional reinforcements.

[0022] 3. Use said reinforcements at higher volume levels by one of two different methods

[0023] a. Use closely spaced, long, aligned reinforcements (i.e., the use of large, diameter fibers allows for easier orientation, placement and binder coating than typical fine filaments and better load transfer within the matrix than typical steel wire or rebar that is too widely spaced).

[0024] b. Use short, thick fibers or rods with low length to diameter dimensional aspect ratio in dispersed, randomly oriented laminates or castings/moldings.

[0025] In the first step of the composite design process (1. above), appropriate reinforcing materials and compatible matrix binders are to be specified. Many of the materials typically used in composites can be adapted for use in this invention. Key differences, though, include the preference for lower costs raw materials and more efficient manufacturing processes. For instance, lower cost, common borosilicate glass rods, rather then E glass or alkali resistant glass compositions, can be used to make cement composites as specified by this invention. Thicker glass fiber diameter minimizes the effects of chemical reactions with the alkaline cement. Typical fiberglass composites require the use of expensive, corrosion resistant glass and/or costly glass filament coatings. According to the present invention, the basic requirement for any reinforcement is that the strength, stiffness and elongation to failure exceed those properties of the matrix material. The reinforcements can then carry a greater share of the load before the matrix cracks or yields. Furthermore, though, excessive strength or stiffness in the reinforcements is potentially wasteful or inefficient if such reinforcements are too costly or the bonding between reinforcement and matrix is inadequate . . . resulting in premature failure by matrix de-bonding rather than fiber breakage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0026] Typical binder materials used for conventional composite products, such as hydraulic cement, plaster, polymer resins, etc., are appropriate for the present invention. These materials can be formulated, mixed, processed and hardened in the usual manner. Similarly, the compositions of the reinforcing materials are well known and adaptable to the present invention, but in a modified format. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment the geometry of the reinforcing elements is tailored to provide simple, easy mixing at maximum volume levels with uniform dispersion and most optimal strength benefit. The reinforcement is selected from materials having stress-strain curves displaying higher modulus of elasticity (i.e., steeper slope) and greater elongation than the matrix material. Typically, high strength fiberglass, ceramic or other inorganic fibers, graphite fibers, high strength/high modulus organic materials and metal wire or rod are used effectively to reinforce cement, polymers, etc., but high material costs and manufacture difficulties are usually issues. Other materials, such as wood pulp or cellulose fibers and commodity thermoplastics, are often used in various composites although these materials typically lack adequate strength or stiffness to greatly improve structural load carrying ability in either cement or polymer matrices. A balance and trade-off of properties will be needed to achieve the optimal materials selection.

[0027] Typical composite designs employ fine reinforcing filaments, either as single fibers or as a bundle of grouped or bonded filaments. The filaments are usually converted to other forms such as fabrics, continuous roving or chopped short, discrete lengths. The short, chopped fibers are often disposed by spraying onto a mold surface, depositing as a dewatered/filtered product or other known processes into thin layers which are laminated together with binder material to form thick sheets or molded parts. Alternatively, the long strands are oriented in continuous, aligned arrays within the matrix to resist the imposed forces or loads. However, rarely are the reinforcements simply mixed directly into the fluid binder phase and cast as sheets or poured into molds. The fibers simply do not adequately wet-out or coat with the binder, and the longer chopped strands become easily entangled, forming lumps or balls that cannot be properly deposited into sheets or other shapes. The best option developed so far to allow direct mixing and molding of chopped fiber reinforced composites employs the use of high shear mixing and high pressure molding or pressing equipment. The fiber and binder mixtures are typically produced as either a dilute liquid dispersion or a dough-like compound. In either case the materials must be further processed under precise and demanding conditions to properly densify and shape the materials into final products. These formulations and manufacturing techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, and the complexity, cost and other difficulties in the fabrication process are also well documented. Numerous inventions have been documented and implemented to improve composite processing while maintaining or improving physical properties and costs. However, none of these techniques has allowed the reinforcements to be easily mixed in the binder and directly cast or molded without specialized equipment or processes. Such composites made from pre-mixed formulations often suffer from low reinforcement levels, degraded fiber strength, poor fiber dispersion/uniformity, inadequate fiber bonding to the matrix, high void content and other such problems. While aligned continuous filaments or thin fiber mats can provide high reinforcement levels (>20%), the processing steps are very complex and not readily adaptable to different configurations. The use of short, chopped fibers can also provide high reinforcement volume levels (>20%), but only if rolled, laminated, pressed, extruded or otherwise processed with specialized processing equipment. Blends of fine filaments and binder, which can be mixed with simple paddle blades or tumbling action and which can be poured and formed directly in open molds without aggressive consolidation or densification methods, generally cannot exceed 1 or 2% fiber volume levels. Some of the newer processing techniques describe the ability to approach 5 or 10% fiber volume content, but the improvements in composite strength over unreinforced binder matrix are still not very significant.

[0028] The key objective of the present invention, then, is to achieve the ability to mix and form composites using simple direct methods while providing high levels of reinforcement and enhanced physical properties. The design of the reinforcement geometry is limited to relatively few options. The diameter and length of the discrete reinforcing members are, basically, the only main variables that can be manipulated. This leads to four different sets of reinforcement: thin/short, thin/long, thick/short and thick/long reinforcing geometric shapes. The reinforcing elements in common usage today are the thin fiber diameters with short to long/continuous lengths and for certain applications (i.e., steel reinforced concrete) large diameter rods of long/continuous length. This leaves a, heretofore, unexplored area of reinforcement configuration comprised of medium fiber diameters with either short fiber lengths, used for random dispersions, or for certain applications long, aligned rods. Unlike existing reinforcements, these short, thicker fibers have the ability to mix and coat well in the unsolidified binders and to achieve high volume loadings. Remarkably, the benefits that accrue to the use of high volumes of short, thick fibers or miniature rods have not been previously identified. The selection of the binder and reinforcing materials is still critical to proper composite design. The strength and modulus of the reinforcement must provide higher strength and stiffness than the matrix. Additionally, the bonding strength, chemical compatibility, costs and similar properties must be adequate for the intended design and application. However, once proper materials are selected, the novel proposed reinforcing technology simply requires the use of higher volumes of these optimally sized fibers.

[0029] As examples of material candidates useful in the present invention, bulk glass formulations (conventional sodium borosilicate), fired clay and steel offer the potential for more optimal reinforcing cost efficiencies (i.e., ratio of useable strength to material costs per unit volume or weight). The key to effective use of these reinforcements hinges on the ability to achieve high volume loadings and efficient strength utilization. The present invention is applicable to any conventional binder system, when combined with novel types of reinforcement possessing the required properties. For instance, high strength thermoset resin composites can be produced using larger diameter, short carbon fibers as specified herein, and strong, cost-effective cement products can be constructed with short, coarse fired clay miniature rods.

[0030] Once the desired material compositions of both reinforcements and binders are determined, the physical dimensions of the reinforcements must be specified in the second step in the composite design process. While considerable data has been published on various novel reinforcement shapes and sizes, the use of large diameter fibers (i.e., miniature rods) has been largely overlooked. Basically, the optimal diameter for a fibrous reinforcement occurs in a range greater than typical glass, carbon or polymer filaments but below that of steel rebar or other bulk structural members. For instance, typical glass, graphite or polymer filaments routinely used in cement or plastic composites have diameters of 10 to 20 micron and are used as continuous filament bundles or chopped to 5 to 30 mm lengths before either mixing in the binders or being formed into chopped strand mats. These materials simply do not wet out well in cement pastes or polymer resins due to the high surface area and leave voids or become entangled or clumped, if used at higher levels, when mixed. Alternatively, large diameter rods in the 10 to 20 mm range, such as steel rebar, are not as effective in preventing micro-cracking and are much more difficult to bond adequately to achieve full reinforcing potential. Reinforcing elements in the range of 0.05 to 5 mm diameter are proposed to provide a more optimal trade-off between processing ability and reinforcing value.

[0031] The final step in the present invention requires the use of high reinforcement volume levels in composite manufacture. This goal can be more readily achieved in a variety of composite designs/types with the fiber diameters specified above. When used in the form of long or continuous, aligned fibers, a cost effective, efficient reinforced composite can be obtained by simple production means. The fibers or rods can be placed directly in the mold and filled with binder materials by simple casting methods. Finer fibers would not allow the mixtures to flow into or around the reinforcement. However, to achieve high strength with randomly oriented, short fiber reinforcements, further refinements of the reinforcements are needed as outlined below.

[0032] Specifically, for three dimensionally reinforced composites the present invention requires the use of fiber diameters of at least 0.05 mm (50 microns) up to about 10-20 mm maximum but at length to diameter (L:D) ratios of well less than 100:1. Most conventional chopped strand filament reinforced composites use fiber L:D ratios much greater then 100:1. The minimum length should be adequate to insure good bonding in the matrix material (i.e., minimal pull out of the fibers from the matrix), but not so long as to inhibit achieving good fiber packing (high volume loading). Typical short fibers with an L:D range of 2:1 to 30:1 will allow at least 20% to as much as 80% fiber volume. The use of larger fiber diameters (i.e., 1-2 mm for instance) with comparably short lengths allows complete wet-out or coating with the precursor matrix materials, but minimal clumping when being mixed. Alternatively, typical finer fiber diameters form lumps or dry mixtures that cannot be evenly or thoroughly mixed, poured or molded even at reduced fiber volume (<20%). Samples of larger diameter glass, metal or fired clay fiber reinforced cement and plastics have been show two provide up to 50-70% volume loading and more than 100% stronger materials than plain unreinforced cement or resin. These samples used 0.1 to 0.5 mm diameter, 1-10 mm long glass; 0.1 to 1 mm diameter, 1-20 mm long steel; and 0.5 to 5 mm diameter, 1-20 mm long clay reinforcement. Blending of fiber sizes and types has also shown the ability to improve volume loading to >70% fiber and increases matrix material strength by 2-3 times.

[0033] To demonstrate the stipulated design methodology, cement samples with fired clay reinforcements were manufactured and tested for flexural strength and modulus. First, various types of clay materials were made and evaluated for use as potential reinforcing elements. Strength testing of these fired clays showed the potential to improve properties when used in cement composite products. Also, polymer binder composites were tested.

EXAMPLE 1

[0034] To verify the potential reinforcing properties, various 15 cm long, 1 cm diameter clay rods were used to reinforce cement samples that were 15 cm long, 2 cm thick and 4 cm wide. This uniaxial reinforcement achieved up to a 300% flexural strength improvement with reinforcement levels up to 70% by volume. The costs, weight and other properties of these samples, even at the high fiber contents, provide a distinct advantage over plain concrete or even conventional reinforced cement products.

EXAMPLE 2

[0035] Plain cement reinforced with 50% by volume of a blend of fired clay fiber sizes, 0.5 to 2.5 mm diameter and 2 to 15 mm long, provides flexural strength improvements of up to 100% over unreinforced cement. Plain Portland cement control samples (15 cm length, 6 cm width and 3 cm thickness), made with a 0.35 water to cement ratio, rarely exceed 1000 psi flexural strength when tested with center point loading in a standard bending test. The test samples reinforced with the random dispersions of fired clay rods achieve nearly 2000 psi flexural modulus of rupture. Blending various fiber diameters (0.5 to 5 mm) possessing various fiber lengths (1 to 20 mm), yielding L:D ratios in a range from 2:1 to 10:1, can provide further improvements to fiber volume loading as well as product strength. Also, sample coupons made with these same materials were tested in compression (crush strength). The plain cement matrix typically achieves a compressive strength in the range of 5000 to 7000 psi while the reinforced composites display a crush strength of over 10,000 psi. Other properties (impact, stiffness, shear, tension) show similar improvements for these samples reinforced with high volumes of short, coarse fired clay miniature rods.

EXAMPLE 3

[0036] Cement binder reinforced with 50% by volume of 0.5 mm diameter, 5-10 mm long chopped galvanized steel wire showed similar benefits. Although the steel wires tend to debond before breaking, the contribution to load carrying ability results in a flexural strength improvement 2 to 3 times plain cement controls at 50% volume loading levels (i.e., up to 2500 psi for the reinforced composites).

EXAMPLE 4

[0037] The same steel wire segments from Example 3 (0.5 mm×5-10 mm size) were used to reinforce an epoxy resin. At a 40% volume level, the composites were found to show a 50% improved over sample coupons made with plain, unreinforced epoxy resin. Higher volume loading and strength is possible, but requires improved bonding between the metal fibers and the epoxy resin. Various surface treatments and sizing agents known in the field can be used to achieve this result.

[0038] Such examples are typical of the range of possibilities pertinent to this invention, based on an improved cost/performance trade-off of the reinforcements. The concept of using moderate diameter fibers in either short random dispersions or long, aligned arrays to achieve higher fiber content and increased strength can be applied to a variety of material types (cement composites, glass reinforced plastics, metal matrices, etc.). The applications include building materials, paving products, engineering structures and other areas where improved manufacture, low cost and enhanced physical properties are required.

[0039] In summary the keys to making improved composite materials according to the present invention involve the specification and selection of materials with a specific range of properties, and the use of unique physical/dimensional forms for the reinforcements made with these materials. Combining these two features within a single system has not been effectively accomplished in the prior art. These novel composite systems also derive benefit from the ability to use simplified manufacturing methods for incorporating said reinforcements into the binder matrix. In the first step the materials used in the composite must be chosen so that the strength and stiffness (Modulus of Elasticity) of the reinforcing materials meet or exceed the binder's strength and stiffness properties. As a further refinement, the ratio of the yield stress point (i.e., maximum usable strength limit) to the material's Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) must be approximately the same for both binder and fiber. This requirement insures that the strain or elongation to failure of the reinforcements is roughly the same as binder's ultimate strain limit. Any major differences in strain properties translates into poor reinforcing efficiencies and/or premature failures. Once these varied objectives are met, both materials (fibers and binders) must then be evaluated for proper interfacial bonding, adequate corrosion resistance, costs, density, etc. Next, for these component materials to be used effectively in a composite system, high levels of reinforcement are required according to this invention. Coating or wet-out of fine filaments is difficult and limits the volumes that can be incorporated. Using very large diameter rods results in poorer reinforcement placement per unit volume (i.e., large gaps in the spacing between the reinforcing elements) and allows for premature generation of matrix cracks. Therefore, reinforcing elements with diameters in the range of 0.05 mm to 10-20 mm are specified, herein. These fiber/rod sizes can then be directly incorporated into the matrix as short, randomly oriented fibers or through a further embodiment of the present invention in compacted, aligned arrays of long fibers. By using thick, short fibers (i.e., with small length to diameter ratios, <20:1 L:D or preferably, <10:1 L:D) the reinforcements can be easily mixed and cast or molded into complex parts with one, two or three principle dimensions. In any case fiber volumes of 50-70% are easily achieved. 

What we claim as our invention is:
 1. A method of strengthening materials by using high volumes of reinforcing elements which can be easily dispersed and uniformly distributed, consisting of fibers or fiber-like shapes such as flakes, ribbons, elongated particles, miniature rods or other similar geometric shapes with a diameter or thickness between 0.05 mm and 20 mm where the reinforcements are incorporated at a level of 20% volume or more of the total composite
 2. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement exceeds 40% by volume
 3. The composite material of claim 1, wherein the reinforcements are short, discrete fibers less than 50 mm in length, having a length to diameter dimensional ratio with a minimum value of 2:1 and a maximum value of 20:1, used in a random, two or three dimensional orientation within the composite body
 4. The composite material of claim 1 wherein the reinforcements are long or continuous fibers, oriented in substantially unidirectional, aligned arrays
 5. The composite material of claim 1, where the matrix materials used as binder for the reinforcements include Portland cement, gypsum, plaster and other similar types of hydraulic cements or other inorganic or metal-based binders
 6. The composite material of claim 1, where the matrix materials used as binder for the reinforcements include monomers, polymers, asphalt/bituminous compounds, thermoset resins, thermoplastics, elastomers or other similar types of organic adhesives
 7. The composite material of claim 1, where the reinforcements are made from glass, ceramics, fired clay, carbon, metals such as steel, copper, aluminum, etc., metal alloys, polymers, natural organic fibrous materials such as wood, cellulose, paper pulp, etc., and other similar, common materials useful for strengthening and stiffening the matrix materials either alone or in various combinations
 8. The composite material of claim 1 which, prior to curing, drying or otherwise solidifying the binder matrix, can be mixed with simple low shear agitation or blending and poured or distributed in sheet form or into molded shapes without the need for high pressure rolling, pressing or laminating techniques while still achieving high reinforcement levels, uniform reinforcement distribution and low void content
 9. The composite material of claim 1, using one or more fiber geometry configurations (diameter and length) with either constant or varied fiber cross-sectional dimensions along any given fiber length that may also be combined with steel wire/rebar and similar such large diameter rods greater than 2.5 mm in diameter or with other reinforcements with fiber diameters less than 0.05 mm in amounts of 0.1% volume or more selected from common, known reinforcing materials such as fiberglass, ceramic and carbon filaments or strands, metal or inorganic fibrils, cellulose, polymer or wood pulp fibers and other such materials provided that these additional reinforcements do not negatively impact the achievement of high reinforcement levels or introduce excessive void content or processing difficulties
 10. A hydraulic-set cement composite, made using standard concrete type manufacturing equipment and practice with or without sand, aggregate or other filters or additives, reinforced with greater than 50% by volume of non-porous, vitrified clay and optionally, with metal, glass, ceramic, polymer, cellulose or carbon rods with dimensions ranging from 0.5 mm diameter by 1-5 mm length to 2.5 mm diameter by 5-25 mm length and deployed in a two or three dimensional orientation or alternatively with rod dimensions ranging from 1 mm diameter to 10 mm diameter with lengths greater than 50 mm arranged in aligned, one or two dimensional orientation, similar to steel rod or wire reinforced concrete, but with greater than 50% reinforcement volume including optional metal, glass, ceramic, polymer, cellulose or carbon rods
 11. A polymer or plastics composite made using standard cast resin type manufacturing equipment and practice with or without various common fillers or additives, reinforced with greater than 50% by volume of ceramic, polymer, cellulose, carbon, metal or glass rods with dimensions ranging from 0.1 mm diameter by 0.2-2 mm length to 2.5 mm diameter by 5-25 mm length and deployed in a two or three dimensional orientation or alternatively with reinforcement dimensions ranging from 1 mm diameter to 10 mm diameter with lengths greater than 50 mm arranged in aligned, one or two dimensional orientation with greater than 50% reinforcement volume including optional metal, glass, ceramic, polymer, cellulose or carbon rods 